Uranium mining land withdrawal extended

U.S. Secretary of Interior Salazar recommends full withdrawal of close to 1,000,000 acres of land near Grand Canyon From future mining development

Ryan Williams/WGCN<br>
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announces his decision to extend the moratorium on new mining claims on 1,000,000 acres near Grand Canyon June 20 at Mather Point in Grand Canyon National Park.

GRAND CANYON, Ariz. - Against the scenic backdrop of the Grand Canyon South Rim at Mather Point, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced June 20 his decision to extend the withdrawal of one million acres of land adjacent to the Grand Canyon from uranium mining until Dec. 20.

The move allows the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), along with the National Park Service (NPS), United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Forest Service (NFS) more time to gather additional research on uranium mining's affects on the area's water supply before completing a final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

The proposed Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) outlines a 20-year mineral withdrawal subject to existing rights. Public input on the Draft EIS was sought to inform a final decision made by the Secretary of the Interior on the proposed withdrawal and, according to Salazar, the BLM received nearly 300,000 comments during the open comment period.

Responding to the public input, the BLM will identify a preferred alternative for a final environmental impact statement, which will be completed in the fall.

"At this moment we face a choice," Salazar said. "We face a choice which could profoundly affect the Grand Canyon in ways that we do not yet understand."

Options considered for the preferred alternative were no withdrawal, which would allow new hard rock mining claims to be filed, partial withdrawal of 300,000 acres, alternative partial withdrawal 650,000 acres and a full withdrawal of approximately 1 million acres.

Based on the input from BLM Director Bob Abbey, NPS director John Jarvis, USGS Director Marcia McNutt and the USFS Chief Tom Kidwell, Salazar directed the BLM to identify the full withdrawal as the preferred alternative in their final report.

"This alternative, if ultimately selected, will insure that all lands adjacent to the Grand Canyon National Park are protected from new hard rock mining land claims, all of which are in the watershed of the Grand Canyon."

A two-year moratorium on new claims in the area has been in effect since July of 2009. When Salazar withdrew close to one million acres of federal land in the Arizona Strip and Kaibab National Forest he said the move was intended to allow time to gather scientific data regarding uranium mining in the area and to gather public input.

Previously approved mining contracts would be allowed to continue even if a decision is made to remove land from mining use. New mining operations could also move forward on claims valid before the proposed withdrawal date of July 21, 2009.

Salazar said the decision regarding new claims remains an ongoing process. Based on Salazar's direction and future analysis, the BLM will complete a final EIS at which point he will be able to make a final decision on the 20-year mineral withdrawal.

Salazar added he expects critics to say that a full withdrawal denies access to uranium mining.

"That of course is not true," he said. "Uranium, like oil and gas, or solar, wind, geothermal or other renewable resources, remain a vital component of a responsible and comprehensive energy plan for our nation and we will continue to develop uranium in northern Arizona, Wyoming and other places in the country."

After Salazar spoke, Abbey went on to explain without additional science and analysis, the BLM, USGS, NPS and NFS is unable to assess possible risks and to adequately protect the Grand Canyon, surrounding lands and the ground water that is relied upon downstream by users of major populated areas in the western United States.

Abbey said mining is a central component of the BLM's multiple use mandate.

"However, multiple use does not mean, every acre managed by the BLM is appropriate for every use," he added. "Mining is an important part of the United States energy strategy and acknowledged the potential for uranium development."

USGS Director McNutt then said since the early 1950's, uranium mining has extracted a total of about a half-year's worth of uranium consumption given the current rate at which the U.S. consumes this resource.

"Our best estimate of the in-ground resources is that it would meet domestic needs for about six years given our current rate of consumption," she said, adding the resources around Grand Canyon amount to 12 percent of the total uranium resource in northern Arizona.

USGS also considered the impact uranium mining of water quality and the remobilization of contaminants, of which the least is known due to little monitoring of active mines in the past.

"People like John Wesley Powell, Theodore Roosevelt and Steven Mather helped us choose the protection of the ancient over the pressures of the now," Salazar said.

Salazar went on to say 3.5 million dollars is generated in hunting, fishing, recreation, and tourism in the Grand Canyon alone. Along with the economic factors, the Canyon also provides water, jobs and cultural heritage.

Salazar said some of the lands near the Grand Canyon historically contributed to the United States uranium supply.

"The question for us though, is not whether to stop cautious and moderate uranium development, but whether to allow further expansion of uranium mining in this area, and the establishment and location of what would be thousands of uranium mining claims at this point," Salazar said.

More like this story

Comments

Comments are not posted immediately. Submissions must adhere to our Use of Service Terms of Use agreement. Rambling or nonsensical comments may not be posted. Comment submissions may not exceed a 200 word limit, and in order for us to reasonably manage this feature we may limit excessive comment entries.